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So, this isn't a done deal, but I might be making a lovely brides wedding invitations! Just to have the opportunity to do this is so exciting for me!
I've been collecting vintage fabrics for a while now. I know, I know.... buttons, stamps, fabrics... what else can she collect? :) I listed some fabric bunting (flag) cards on etsy, and have had more inquries on those than anything else! Who knew bunting was so popular?!
I sent samples off to the bride last week; hope to hear from her soon! Here's what I came up with:
She's using pinks, yellows, neutrals, and whites for her August '11 wedding (she's planning ahead), so I put together a sample card of all the fabrics I thought would work...
Three different styles for the invitations.
I also included a sewn gift tag that complements the invitation style.
I've really enjoyed having my Etsy shop open. I've made 14 sales in my first month. (7 went to my new friend, Amy. But, they still count! :) I will be restocking my shop with lots more flower earrings in the next few weeks as well. Keep me in mind for Christmas, birthday gifts, and bridesmaid gifts!
Happy creating!
This recipe was adapted from Giada De Laurentiis from the Food Network. In my opinion, everything this lady touches is gold... she also uses Anthropologie gadgets and dishes in her kitchen, so she's a smart one too. :)
Pasta Primavera is a really simple, healthy meal. This recipe combines my two favorite things. Vegetables and Pasta. Love it. Just know you will be chopping away in the kitchen for a good twenty minutes. It's worth it! Trust me.
Here's what you'll need:
1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips
2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
15 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
(I opted out on the onion this time, because the husband doesn't like them. I'll add them in next time... shhh!)
Steps:
1) Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.
2) In a large bowl, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Half the vegetable mixture; transfer the mixture to two heavy large baking sheets and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. (I tried using a flat cookie sheet... big mistake. Use a pan that has sides so the oil won't drip in your oven.) Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 8 minutes, about 15 minutes total. (Mine browned more quickly than the original recipe, but our oven has it's quirks... just watch yours closely!)
3)Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
4)Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.
Bon Appetit! This is one of my favorites!
Well, we went on my new favorite hike on Monday. I'm pretty sure my favorite hike will change frequently, especially this time of year. I guess it's a good problem to have... too many hikes that you love! :)
We explored Silver Falls State Park (aka Trail of Ten Falls) with a new friend named Jerrod. This will definitely be on our list of places to take visitors! The park is usually busy, but since we went on Monday, and a fairly chilly afternoon, we basically had it all to ourselves. Wonderful!
Hike highlights: good company, we saw a crane, waterfalls, and mushrooms! This land is plentiful of thousands of mushrooms, big and small.
I loved how the yellow leaves framed each waterfall. Let's just say the photo opps were very plentiful as well.
Friends, meet our new friend Jerrod. He also attends Pacific University with Heath and is studying Counseling Psychology. He kindly invited us to go on this hike with him and briefly showed us around his hometown, Salem. He even treated us to dinner at a roadhouse... I had bbq! Thanks Jerrod. I look forward to more hikes and good meals!
You could walk under/behind most of the waterfalls on this hike.
Christmas card spoiler below... if you want to be surprised, stop reading now! Another nice thing about hiking with a friend is getting wonderful pictures like this...
What a great hike. Let's go back tomorrow. Sound good, Heath?
For the next ten days, the high is only 60 degrees. Hello Portland weather. I think I'm handling this change of weather better than my summer loving husband. :)
Hope you enjoy the rest of week!
Heath and I had a morning date today. We explored the Portland State Farmer's Market, which is the largest and most diversified one we've found so far. If nothing else, it's fun to walk around, take in all the wonderful smells of fresh food, and admire the lovely dahlias and sunflowers.
Though many say the prices at farmers markets are unreasonable, I think it's well worth it to set aside $10 a week to spend. Here's a couple reasons why:
1. You support local farmers.
2. You get to take home amazing food, fresh and free from pesticides, which makes the tastes remarkably intense and juicy!
3. By supporting local farmers, you are taking away the control of superstores (aka Walmart) and regaining control in your community and the quality of the foods that you eat.
We purchased a pint of cherry tomatoes, strawberries, and blueberries, and 5 large red potatoes. We spent $9. Farmers market strawberries literally taste like sugar! MMMmmm, such a treat.
Heath recently finished reading Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food", and I hope to finish it soon. It's a book full of useful and challenging information on what we eat here in America. We highly recommend it. The Oscar nominated documentary Food, Inc. made me realize that I need to start paying more attention to the foods I choose to eat.
No, we don't buy everything organic and I certainly don't think that's necessary. Just thought I'd share some thoughts. If you ever visit us, we will definitely be taking you to the farmers market! I will be buying some flowers for your room, and you will be sampling the cherries, strawberries, peaches, cheeses, breads, and kettle corn. :)
I cannot express to you how nice it is to live in a place with actual seasons! It's so wonderful. Living in West Texas was not terrible, but in the middle of fall I always found myself becoming home-sick. The leaves never changed colors... the weather stayed warm until December...
Well today, Heath and I got to experience Oregon fall weather at its finest. We drove out to Mt. Hood (which is about a hour and twenty minutes from our house) to explore the Salmon River area. Imagine the sound of the leaves ruffling softly as the wind blows, watching them fall slowly around you as you walk along the trail, and listening to the river move rapidly over the shallow rock beds. (that was my sorry attempt of describing the most beautiful, serene place in the world!)
This was probably one of my most favorite hikes we've taken thus far. It probably won me over due to the golden, yellow leaves, the perfect 70 degree weather, and the abundance of wildlife.
We weren't able to spot any Salmon... I think they're spawning. However, we did hang out with some monster Steelhead Trout. (see picture below) It's amazing how amusing these things can be. We watched them for at least thirty minutes. And I probably could have watched them longer :)
I realized that Oregon has giant redwoods too.
I love living here. The past few weeks have been a little difficult. With the job search, finding our new everyday routine, missing friends and family... but today was a great day. For Heath and I, and for me individually.
I think I'm a mountains kind of girl. You know, some people like the beach, some people like texas, but I like the mountains. And the rivers and waterfalls that come with them. :) Thanks for reading, and I promise to share more pictures and updates soon!
Happy Weekend
Hello friends.
I never meant to leave for so long. Sorry about that. I just wanted to pop in really quick to say that I am going to post some pictures tonight. Heath and I are about to leave for a hike so I don't think he would appreciate me writing for another hour. :)
Lately, I have been in job search mode. It works best for me to search and apply to lots of listings in the morning/early afternoon. Then, I give myself a break to clean, craft, ect in the afternoons and at night. I have started applying for receptionist/secretarial work... basically all entry level social workers up here are bilingual or have their masters, thus I do not qualify for most of the positions. Do not fear, I have not given up on social work forever, I'm just ready to start some income around here.
Other than a job searcher, I am a cook and a baker of many delightful things, grocery shopper, and Etsy shop creator/manager/owner. I'm so glad I set up an Etsy shop; I now have a license to create things that I wouldn't have necessarily done before. And it doesn't hurt that you make a little money. I think my new thing is embroidery! The other night, I taught myself the stem, silk, and back stitches. Exciting, I know.
Coming soon...
-My all natural deodorant recipe and review
-recipes for tomato basil soup and raspberry cream cupcakes
-pictures from mom's visit (a month late)
-pictures from our hikes to Mt. St. Helens (two times) and other times to Mt. Hood
-pictures of our house!
-My random Portland list
That's all for now. We're off to enjoy beautiful fall weather!
